(Image: Pic supplied)
A North Yorkshire dog owner has launched a new pet brand following the death of her miniature dachshund.
Louise Marcon, from Whixley near York, created the brand after her dog Rudy died on September 21, 2023, after swallowing a squeaker from a toy.
She has since launched SafePawz, a thoughtfully designed collection of squeaker-free dog toys, to raise awareness of the dangers posed by loose squeakers in damaged toys.
Ms Marcon said: "There are no published national figures showing how many dogs are injured or die specifically after swallowing toy squeakers—and that is part of the problem.
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"These incidents are generally recorded under the much broader category of foreign-body ingestion, so the true scale is unknown.
"There simply isn’t enough awareness of what can happen when a dog removes and swallows a squeaker from a damaged toy.
"I cannot change what happened to Rudy, but I can use his story to help other owners make more informed choices."
Rudy required emergency surgery and spent five days in intensive care before developing septic peritonitis.
He could not be saved.
The first product from Ms Marcon’s new brand is Rudy the Sausage Dog, a squeaker-free plush toy made from recycled materials.
The toy has been tested to EN71 quality standards and will carry CE and UKCA markings.
Ms Marcon said the toy is about more than just launching a product.
She said: "This is far more than a product launch.
"It is about turning something heartbreaking into something positive and making sure Rudy’s little paw print leaves a meaningful legacy."
The company also promotes broader safe play messages, reminding owners that no dog toy is indestructible or completely risk-free.
It advises that dogs should be supervised during play, toys should suit the dog's size and play style, and damaged toys should be removed immediately.
Ms Marcon holds a Level 3 qualification in canine behaviour and welfare and holds a canine first aid certificate.
Rudy the Sausage Dog will be launched in November 2026.